Appendix 8: Some particulars of British and Enemy Aircraft in use in the Middle East and Mediterranean Theatre during the period of this volume.
The figures in these tables are no more than a general guide to the characteristics and capabilities of each type of aircraft. The performance is affected the climate, the skill of the pilot, the accuracy of navigation, and by the uncertainties of flying in the presence of the enemy. For these reasons the operational range—not to be confused with the radius of action—is always much less than the still air range. Broadly speaking, after allowing for the running of the engines on the ground and for the climb to the height quoted, the still air range is the distance that can be flown in still air until the tanks are empty.
NOTES:
(i) The most economical cruising speed is the speed at which the greatest range is achieved.
(ii) The height given in column IV is the optimum height for the maximum speed.
Fighter Aircraft
British
I | II | III | IV | V | VI | |
Aircraft | Fuel and Still Air Range at Most Economical Cruising Speed | Most Economical Cruising Speed (mph) | Maximum Speed (mph) | Gun Armament | Remarks | |
Galls. | Miles | |||||
Blenheim Mk. IV F Twin engine monoplane Crew 2 | 466 | 1,615 | 170 at 15,000 ft. | 266 at 11,800 ft. | 6 x .303 | |
Fulmar Single engine monoplane Crew 2 | 155 | 820 | 170 at 10,000 ft. | 253 at 10,000 ft. | 8 x .303 | Fleet Air Arm. |
Fury Single engine biplane Crew 1 | 50 | 440 | 127 at 15,000 ft. | 205 at 15,000 ft. | 2 x .303 | |
Gauntlet Single engine biplane Crew 1 | 79 | 626 | 118 at 15,000 ft. | 225 at 15,000 ft. | 2 x .303 | |
Gladiator Single engine biplane Crew 1 | 83 | 523 | 142 at 15,000 ft. | 245 at 15,000 ft. | 4 x .303 | Sea Gladiators of the Fleet Air Arm were a modified version. |
Hurricane Mk, I Single engine monoplane Crew 1 | 97 | 600 | 180 at 15,000 ft. | 316 at 17,750 ft. | 8 x .303 | |
Tomahawk Single engine monoplane Crew 1 | 132 175 | 695 825 | 185 at 15,000 ft. | 340 at 16,000 ft. | 2 x .50 4 x .303 | American design and manufacture. First operated in the Middle East (in the Western Desert) in April, 1941. |
Bomber Aircraft
(including bomber transport, bomber reconnaissance, and torpedo-bomber)
British
Aircraft | Still Air Range with Associated Bomb load | Most Economical Cruising Speed (mph) | Maximum Speed (mph) | Armament | Remarks | |
Miles | Bomb load | |||||
Albacore Single engine biplane Crew 2 or 3 | 521 | 1 Torpedo or 1,500 lb. | 105 at 6,000 ft. | 163 at 4,800 ft. | 2 x .303 | Figures relate to use as torpedo -bomber. Fleet Air Arm. |
Battle Single engine monoplane Crew 2 | 1,050 | 1,000 lb. | 148 at 15,000 ft. | 241 at 13,000 ft. | 2 x .303 | |
Blenheim Mk. I Twin engine monoplane Crew 3 | 920 | 1,000 lb. | 165 at 15,000 ft. | 265 at 15,000 ft. | 2 x .303 | |
Blenheim Mk. IV Twin engine monoplane Crew 3 | 1,457 | 1,000 lb. | 170 at 15,000 ft. | 266 at 11,800 ft. | 5 x .303 | |
Bombay Twin engine monoplane Crew 4 | 1,500 | |||||
330 | (a) (b) | 120 at 10,000 ft. | 159 at 10,000 ft. | 2 x .303 | Transport aircraft (a) With 10 troops. (b) With 24 troops. Could carry up to 2,000lb. bombs. | |
Glenn Martin (Maryland) Twin engine monoplane Crew 3 | 1,210 1,049 | 1,500 lb. 2,000 lb. | 176 at 15,000 ft. | 278 at 11,800 ft. | 8 x .303 | American design and manufacture |
Hardy Single engine biplane Crew 2 | 477 | 500 lb. | 115 at 10,000 ft. | 156 at 10,000 ft. | 2 x .303 | |
Hartbeest Single engine biplane Crew 2 | 450 | 568 lb. | 110 at 11,000 ft. | 145 at 11,000 ft. | 3 x .303 | Figures given are for East African conditions. |
Bomber Aircraft
(including bomber transport, bomber reconnaissance, and torpedo-bomber)
British
Aircraft | Still Air Range with Associated Bomb load | Most Economical Cruising Speed (mph) | Maximum Speed (mph) | Armament | Remarks | |
Miles | Bomb load | |||||
Ju.86 Twin engine monoplane Crew 6 | 700 | 1,160 lb. | 120 at 8,000 ft. | 140 at 6,000 ft. | 6 x .303 | Figures given are for East African conditions. Performance differs from that of the German Ju.86 (military version). |
Lysander Single engine monoplane Crew 2 | 1,410 | 500 lb. | 123 at10,000 ft. | 212 at 4,500 ft. 197 at 15,000 ft. | 4 x .303 | |
Skua Single engine monoplane Crew 2 | 980 | 500 lb. | 157 at 15,000 ft. | 212 at 15,000 ft. | 5 x .303 | Fighter dive-bomber. Fleet Air Arm. |
Sunderland Flying-Boat Four engine monoplane Crew 10 | 1,850 2,425 | 1,900 lb. Nil. | 142 at 5,000 ft. | 188 at 6,500 ft. | 7 x .303 | |
Swordfish Single engine biplane Crew 2 | 528 | 1,500 lb. | 103 at 5,000 ft. | 139 at 5,000 ft. | 2 x .303 | Torpedo-bomber. Fleet Air Arm. |
Valentia Twin engine biplane Crew 2 | 367 | (a) | 104 at 6,500 ft. | 111 at 6,500 ft. | None | Transport aircraft. (a) With 22 troops. |
Vincent Single engine biplane Crew 2 | 726 | 500 lb. | 95 at 10,000 ft. | 141 at 10,000 ft. | 2 x .303 | |
Wellesley Single engine monoplane Crew 2 | 2,250 | 1,060 lb. | 133 at 15,000 ft. | 206 at 15,000 ft. | 2 x .303 | |
Wellington Mk.1 Twin engine monoplane Crew 6 | 2,550 1,200 | 1,000 lb. 4,500 lb. | 165 at 10,000 ft. | 225 at 4,700 ft. 235 at 15,500 ft. | 6 x .303 |
Fighter Aircraft
Italian
Aircraft | Fuel and Still Air Range at Most Economical Cruising Speed | Most Economical Cruising Speed (mph) | Maximum Speed (mph) | Gun Armament | Remarks |
Galls. | Miles | ||||
C.R.32 Single engine biplane Crew 1 | 80 | 790 | 130 at 10,000 ft. | 233 at 10,000 ft. | 2 x 12.7 mm. |
C.R.42 Single engine biplane Crew 1 | 77 | 535 | 150 at 13,100 ft. | 270 at 13,100 ft. | 2 x 12.7 mm. |
G.50 Single engine monoplane Crew 1 | 69 | 530 | 170 at 14,500 ft. | 300 at 14,500 ft. | 2 x 12.7 mm. |
M.C.200 Single engine monoplane Crew 1 | 70 | 570 | 170 at 15,000 ft. | 310 at 15,000 ft. | 2 x 12.7 mm. |
German
Me.110 Twin engine monoplane Crew 2 | 280 | 930 | 200 at 18,000 ft. | 360 at 20,000 ft. | 6 x 7.9 mm. 2 x 20mm. |
Bomber Aircraft
(including bomber transport, bomber reconnaissance, and torpedo-bomber)
Italian
Aircraft | Still Air Range with Associated Bomb load | Most Economical Cruising Speed (mph) | Maximum Speed (mph) | Armament | Remarks | |
Miles | Bomb load | |||||
Ba. 65 Single engine monoplane Crew 1 to 2 | 590 | 880 lb. | 160 at 13,500 ft. | 255 at 16,400 ft. | 2 x 12.7 mm. 3 x 7.7 mm. | Ground attack aircraft. |
B.R. 20 Twin engine monoplane Crew 4 | 1,350 | 2,200 lb. | 175 at 13,000 ft. | 255 at 13,500 ft. | 1 x 12.7 mm. 2 x 7.7 mm. | |
Ca. 133 Three engine monoplane Crew 4 | 750 | 2,000 lb. | 105 at 5,500 ft. | 174 at 5,500 ft. | 4 x 7.7 mm. | Used mainly for transport. |
Ca. 310 Twin engine monoplane Crew 3 | 1,060 | 880 lb. | 115 at 5,500 ft. | 212 at 5,500 ft. | 3 x 7.7 mm. | Used mainly for reconnaissance. |
Ca. 311 Twin engine monoplane Crew 3 to 4 | 1,315 | 880 lb. | 120 at 13,000 ft. | 260 at 13,000 ft. | 4 x 7.7 mm. | |
Cant. Z. 501 Single engine flying-boat Crew 4 to 5 | 2,450 | 1,100 lb. | 85 at sea level | 152 at sea level | 4 x 7.7 mm. | |
Cant. Z. 506 Three engine seaplane Crew 4 to 5 | 1,130 | 1,750 lb. | 140 at 13,000 ft. | 230 at 13,000 ft. | 1 x 12.7 mm. 3 x 7.7 mm. | |
Cant. Z. 1007b, Three engine monoplane Crew 4 to 5 | 1,650 | 1,100 lb. | 160 at 15,000 ft. | 280 at 15,000 ft. | 2 x 12.7 mm. 2 x 7.7 mm. | |
Ghibli Twin engine monoplane Crew 3 to 4 | 530 1,210 | 740 lb. Nil | 100 at 3,000 ft. | 158 at sea level | 3 x 7.7 mm. | Reconnaissance and light bombing |
Ro. 37 Single engine biplane Crew 2 | 1,100 1,295 | 400 lb. Nil | 120 at 14,000 ft. | 200 at 14,000 ft. | 2 x 12.7 mm. 1 x 7.7 mm. | |
S. 79 Three engine monoplane Crew 4 to 5 | 1,190 | 2,750 lb. | 155 at 13,000 ft. | 255 at 13,000 ft. | 3 x 12.7 mm. 2 x 7.7 mm. | Used, when modified, as a tor- pedo-bomber. |
S.81 Three engine monoplane Crew 4 to 5 | 1,030 | 2,200 lb. | 130 at 15,000 ft. | 210 at 15,000 ft. | 6 x 7.7 mm. | |
S. 82 Three engine monoplane Crew 4 to 5 | 1,250 | Nil | 155 at 10,000 ft. | 205 at 7,000 ft. | 1 x 12.7 mm. 4 x 7.7 mm. | Transport aircraft. Freight: 5,000 lb. |
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Bomber Aircraft
(including bomber transport, bomber reconnaissance, and torpedo-bomber)
German
Aircraft | Still Air Range with Associated Bomb load | Most Economical Cruising Speed (mph) | Maximum Speed (mph) | Armament | Remarks | |
Miles | Bomb load | |||||
Do. 17 Twin engine monoplane Crew 4 | 890 | 2,200 lb. | 180 at 15,000 ft. | 255 at 15,000 ft. | 7 x 7.9 mm. 1 x 20 mm. | Used mainly for reconnaissance. |
He.111 Twin engine monoplane Crew 5 to 6 | 1,510 | 2,200 lb. | 180 at 17,000 ft. | 240 at 14,000 ft. | 7 x 7.9 mm. 2 x 20 mm. | |
Ju.52 Three engine monoplane Crew 3 to 4 | 530–790 | Nil | 132 at sea level | 165 at sea level | 5 x 7.9 mm. | Transport aircraft. Freight: 4,000–5,060 lb. |
Ju.87 (Stuka) Single engine monoplane Crew 2 | 360 | 1,100 lb. | 160 at 15,000 ft. | 245 at 15,000 ft. | 3 x 7.9 mm. | Dive-bomber. |
Ju.88 Twin engine monoplane Crew 4 | 1,310 | 2,200 lb. | 194 at 16,400 ft. | 295 at 14,000 ft. | 1 x 7.9 mm. 1 x 20 mm. |